Page 84 of Pen Me

“When it happens, take note of the date. Rumi will. When the anniversary of that day draws near in the coming years, do pleasant things. Make sure it's a stress-free time, distract her if you can. Don’t let her cement that date in the forefront of her mind. It will always be locked away there, but it doesn’t have to haunt her the way it did my parents when Ruby went.”

“That's… a good idea.” Henny hesitantly decided, before adding, “I appreciate that, Sammy. I appreciate you being here for Rumi, even if I didn’t show it the right way at first.”

“We were all stressed, Henny. Don’t worry about it. I’m glad you and Menace got to work things out.”

He stopped digging in his bag, but kept his eyes glued to it.

“You were listening?”

“To some of it. I wish he would have told you who that bartender was. I wish I could go down there and beat it out of them.”

He laughed. “Beat it out of them? Random bartenders? You sound like my brother.”

I snorted and shook my head, “I couldn’t do that to innocent people, but I’d give anything to know.”

He sighed and nodded, “Yeah–”

The door banged and his attention lifted in time to see his daughter just before she flung her arms around him.

“I’m so glad you’re ready with boots on and everything, just like you promised!”

I could tell by his face he didn’t have a clue what she was talking about, but he hugged her tightly and grunted in the affirmative.

“Let me toss my bag in my room and get Mommy’s hairbrush and toothbrush for when she wakes up.” Rumi didn’t wait for an answer, she stomped upstairs, leaving Henny to groan and rub the bridge of his nose.

“I can’t believe she stayed quiet about all of this,” he lamented, staring up after Rumi.

“Maybe she knew you’d be better at it, Henny.”

His gaze shot to mine, but he only swallowed and nodded.

His phone chimed, and Henny fumbled around pulling it out of his pocket.

“Hel–”

I could hear my father’s voice sounding off before Henny got his greeting out, but I couldn’t make out the words.

“Jesus Christ, Zig. When the fuck–?” He looked upstairs and then behind me as Menace mounted the basement steps.

Henny canted his head toward the front door of the cabin and Menace trailed after him.

“Be right back.” He looked dead at me as he said it, silently commanding me to stay put.

A few moments later, he returned with the phone in hand and looked toward the Rumi at the top of the stairs, “Your dad wants you to get your mother’s phone.”

“Oh,” Rumi gasped, spinning around and darting back into the room.

“Is it charged?” Menace questioned, standing in front of the door.

She glanced down and bobbed her head, “Thirty percent.”

She held up the charging cord in the other hand, and Menace stepped aside.

He shot his arm out and pinned her to his side just as she tried to pass.

“I love you, Rumor Remington. You’re my favorite niece. Don’t you never forget that.”

“I’m your only niece, crazy.” She laughed, returning the hug, before she shoved him away.

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